What are eye exams?
An eye exam is a collection of tests performed to evaluate eye health and screen for vision concerns. The goal of an eye exam is to identify, treat, and prevent visual impairments. These exams are also vital to detecting and managing serious eye conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration, and are essential for maintaining your overall health. It is important to receive regular eye exams from an eye care specialist, even if you do not perceive current problems with your vision or eye health. At West County Ophthalmology, our team performs routine and comprehensive eye exams for adults and pediatric patients. Please contact one of our two locations in Chesterfield and O’Fallon, MO to schedule an exam with one of our board-certified ophthalmologists.
What are the benefits of an eye exam?
Eye exams at West County Ophthalmology are beneficial for patients of all ages and are an important aspect of your ocular health. Regular eye exams help us identify various conditions that may need further treatment or examination. Some benefits our patients can expect from regular eye exams include:
- Early detection and treatment of diseases
- Maintain proper vision
- Ensure eye health
- Quick and easy to complete
- Clearer vision
Who Is A Candidate for An Eye Exam?
Receiving comprehensive eye exams on a regular basis is crucial for everyone. This is the case even if you haven't felt or seen any symptoms. It is recommended that individuals who are over 18 and below 40 years of age get their eyes evaluated every two years. Patients 40 or older should have eye health assessments every 2 – 4 years. Thorough eye evaluations can identify other serious yet manageable medical problems, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and retinal holes or tears.
Families should also bear in mind that it's quite important to plan eye assessments for their school-age children. Studies have revealed that one-fourth of kids have a vision concern. As stated by the American Optometric Association (AOA), babies should have their earliest ocular exams around six months of age. They should be examined again just before starting school. Ophthalmologists recommend that kids have their eyes examined every other year, regardless of whether they seem to have good vision. Regular eye exams are important due to the current significant increase in nearsightedness (myopia). This spike is being caused by children spending time on electronic devices at a never-before-seen rate.
What does An eye exam include?
An eye exam typically begins with a visual acuity test. If corrective lenses can improve your vision, then refraction tests can be performed to determine the lens power needed for your ideal vision. A slit-lamp test can also be conducted to closely examine the structures inside and around your eye and evaluate their function. Some exams require eye dilation so our team can assess the retinal blood vessels, optic nerve, macula, and vitreous. We will advise you ahead of time if your exam will include dilation so that you can arrange a ride home, as dilation usually takes a few hours to wear off completely. Following your exam, your ophthalmologist will review their findings and discuss any treatment recommendations.
Our eye specialists recommend that you have your eyes evaluated regularly. For most patients, we suggest an eye exam once every two years. For patients over 55, we generally recommend annual exams. Most eye exams can be completed in about 30 – 90 minutes.
Are Eye Exams Covered Under Insurance?
At West County Ophthalmology, it's our goal to make getting proper treatment for your vision as easy and affordable, which is why we are proud to work with many insurance companies. Most vision insurance companies cover, at least in part, an annual eye exam and other vision services, unlike medical insurance, which only covers eye injuries or diseases. If you have questions about your vision insurance or are unsure whether or not your visit will be covered, our team will happily assist you so you can get the best coverage out of our insurance plan.
Eye Exams FAQ
What tests are performed during a routine eye exam?
We will perform several tests during our routine eye exams to get a good idea of your overall eye health. Some of the tests we may perform include:
- Pupillary reactions
- Slit lamp test
- Pupil dilation
- Visual acuity and refraction
What is the purpose of an eye exam?
We understand that knowing why an exam is needed when your vision is excellent can sometimes be difficult. But eye exams are about more than vision testing; they're about the overall health of your eyes. Routine eye exams can help us identify vision and/or health issues that can be addressed as early as possible. Many eye conditions don't have symptoms early on, so these exams allow us to maintain your eye health and catch issues early on. We encourage our patients to schedule eye exams at our O'Fallon or Chesterfield, MO offices at least every other year.
What is the difference between a routine eye exam and a medical eye exam?
A routine eye exam addresses non-medical issues, such as nearsightedness, astigmatism, and the like. A medical eye exam is performed to treat diseases or infections.
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Maintain Your Vision and Eye health
Routine eye exams are important to ensure your eyes remain healthy in the present and over time. It is also essential to have your eyes examined promptly if you notice any changes to your vision or eye health. Our experienced team can assist you with your vision health needs through every phase of life. Contact West County Ophthalmology today to schedule an appointment with one of our eye specialists.
